Pinball drop target assembly

Abstract

A drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement game includes a frame that is mounted to the under surface of a play field. An elongated target extends through a slot in the play field and is reciprocally mounted in the frame. The target is moveable from a position below the play field to a latched position above the play field by a resetting assembly. In a position above the play field, the target may be struck by a playing object which will release the target causing it to drop to the position below the play field. The resetting assembly includes a target stop member mounted on the frame for reciprocating movement vertically relative to the play field. The target stop member holds one end of the target in the position below the play field and is out of engagement with the target in the position above the play field. The resetting assembly further includes a solenoid with a plunger coupled to the target stop member. The plunger extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine, comprising: a frame,   a single target member mounted on said frame,   means for moving said target member from a lowered position to an elevated position,   means for releaseably latching said target member in said elevated position, and   a target stop member mounted on said frame for movement by said moving means, said target stop member mounted for movement along a longitudinal axis of said target member to engage and move said target member into said elevated position.   
     
     
       2. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a solenoid with an elongated plunger, said solenoid mounted on said frame with the direction of movement of said plunger being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said target member. 
     
     
       3. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said target stop member is an elongated U shaped channel extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of said target member. 
     
     
       4. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said target stop member is engaged by an end of said target member in said lowered position and is out of engagement with said end of said target member in said elevated position of said target member. 
     
     
       5. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of additional target members spaced closely together. 
     
     
       6. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 further comprising additional target members mounted in said frame independently of each other allowing removal of each target member from said frame separately of other target members. 
     
     
       7. The drop target assembly for a pinball type amusement machine claimed in claim 1 further comprising an electromagnet on said fame coupled to said moving means for automatically unlatching said target member. 
     
     
       8. A drop target assembly for an amusement machine, comprising: a frame,   at least one elongated target with a longitudinal axis extending along the length of said target,   a resetting mechanism for moving said target axially from a first position to a second position, and   a latch mechanism for releaseably latching said target in said second position,   said resetting mechanism including a target stop member mounted on said frame for reciprocal movement along said longitudinal axis of said target, an end of said target engaging said target stop member in said first position of said target.   
     
     
       9. The drop target assembly for an amusement machine set forth in claim 8 wherein said target stop member includes an elongated U shaped channel extending transversely to said longitudinal axis of said target. 
     
     
       10. The drop target assembly for an amusement machine set forth in claim 8 wherein said resetting mechanism includes a solenoid with a plunger, said plunger extending parallel to said longitudinal axis of said target. 
     
     
       11. The drop target assembly for an amusement machine set forth in claim 8 wherein said resetting mechanism includes a solenoid with a longitudinal axis parallel to said axis of said target. 
     
     
       12. The drop target assembly for an amusement machine set forth in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of said targets in a configuration of parallel, closely spaced rows. 
     
     
       13. The drop target assembly for an amusement machine set forth in claim 8 further comprising an electromagnet on said frame coupled to said resetting mechanism for automatically releasing said target from said latch mechanism. 
     
     
       14. In a pinball machine, the combination comprising: a play field for supporting a game object,   a drop target assembly including at least one game object engagable target,   means for elevating said game object engagable target from a nonengagable position below said play field to a play position above said play field, and   means for releaseably latching said object engagable target in said play position,   said elevating means including a stop member holding said engagable target in said nonengagable position and mounted for perpendicular, vertical reciprocation relative to said play field, and a solenoid with a longitudinal axis extending parallel to the direction of vertical reciprocation of said stop member.   
     
     
       15. The combination claimed in claim 14 wherein said stop member is spaced from said game object engagable target in said play position. 
     
     
       16. The combination claimed in claim 14 wherein said solenoid is connected to said stop member. 
     
     
       17. The combination claimed in claim 14 further comprising means for automatically releasing said latching means while said object engagable target is in said play position and independent of engagement of said object engagable target by said game object. 
     
     
       18. In an amusement device, the combination comprising: a play field for supporting a game object,   a plurality of drop target assemblies closely spaced in parallel rows,   each drop target assembly including at least one game object engagable target,   each drop target assembly including means for elevating each said game object engagable target from a nonengagable position below said play field to a play position above said play field,   each drop target assembly including means for releaseably latching each said object engagable target in said play position,   each elevating means including a target stop member on which each engagable target rests in said nonengagable position, each said target stop member mounted for vertical, linear movement on a respective drop target assembly.   
     
     
       19. The combination set forth in claim 18 wherein each said target stop member is a "U" shaped tray.